Another Miracle

So this Sunday we had a few investigators come to church, but all hope of  having a baptism this transfer kinda fell through. But at the last moment an old investigator popped up and said she wanted to be baptized, so we marked her baptism for the 8th of December!!

Honestly me and my companion have been working hard and have had a little success, but finally our labors have qualified for a miracle!!!!

Things that happened:

I saw a giant tarantula just walking on the sidewalk.

Got terribly sick on Wednesday with a fever of 101 degrees and vomited; got a priesthood blessing and was totally better the next day.

Found several cockroaches in our apartment and promptly destroyed them.

I am super excited for Frazier to go to Brazil. You will learn to love America, not to say Brazil is terrible, but we are so blessed to have been born in America. Learning another language has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but you know Spanish so it should be a bit easier. Also read preach my gospel in English first to get the lessons down.

Anyway, I’m excited to talk to my family on Christmas, hopefully through Skype, but we still have some time. I hope Thanksgiving was awesome. That is not a holiday here...so I just worked. I miss berry delight...and orange rolls.

Eu Amo Voces,
Elder Willard

Mission Changes

New changes to all missions in Brazil.

-We can not play basketball or soccer or football.
-We can not be with other missionaries on P-day.
-We can not have Zone activities.

We don’t really know what to do on p-days now...we can have staring contests in the apartment.
Other news! Frazier got his mission call to Manaus Brazil!!! I also made pancakes today because we found some mix in a random store. Of course it’s a Great Value brand, Oh Walmart....

I sure am enjoying the work, being a missionary and teaching o evangelho restaurado!
até agora, foi maravilhoso, aprendi bastante. Mas agora chega a hora a trabalhar bastante
e batizar todo mundo. Eu gosto de ver pessoas mudando vidas deles para preparar-se ser
batizado na igreja de Cristo. (the restored gospel! Until now, it was wonderful, I learned a lot. But now it's time to work hard and baptize everyone. I like to see people changing their lives to be prepared for baptism in the church of Christ.)

I have never been so tired in my life. I'm getting a better understanding of what exercising faith truly means, and going the extra mile. And what it means to love your companion on the mission. People weren't lying when they say you become a better husband, father, brother, etc, serving a mission. It’s just natural after seeing literally thousands of families and their relationships, what works and what doesn’t work.

Eu sei que a igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Ùltimos Dias é verdadeira.
(I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.)

Elder Willard

Missionary Angels

We are already listening to Christmas music! Which is great! Thanksgiving does not really exist in Brazil so we are just gonna skip it and go to Christmas. Something cool happened yesterday. My companion and I went to an investigator’s house and as we came in we saw that the family was watching American football! Let me remind you that Futebol Americano is not popular at all. It is nearly impossible to find the football channel, let alone people that are interested in it. But lo and behold, I saw my beloved Seahawks playing the Jets!

We also saw Lynch score a touchdown! It was pretty difficult to teach a lesson compared to just sitting and watching something other than soccer.

On a more spiritual note, we found a family pretty far from our home and the Grandmother, Olinda, told us that just the previous day she had been praying for an angel to come and see her. Then she said, “And then two angels came walking down the road to my house.” Hopefully we can get her to come to church and get baptized.

Also a little advice about dating or having a relationship:
Get married to your husband or wife legally and don't live together until you are married. Being legally married strengthens every single aspect about your relationship with your spouse and your future children. If someone truly loves you, they will want to marry you legally because they don’t want a light relationship or “no strings attached.” They are in it for the long haul, for good or for bad. Too many people here in Brazil just start dating someone and then start living together because it’s fun and easy. But down the line they realize that they don't truly love each other, and at the first sign of trouble they want to split and unfortunately the children suffer.

Eu sei que Cristo sofreu tudo por nós e podemos aplicar a Expiação de Jesus Cristo em nossas vidas incluindo casamento.
Vivem vidas certas e nunca esquecem oração pode dar muitos respostas para todas as perguntas. Eu Amo Vocês!

[I know that Christ suffered for us all and we can apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives including marriage. Live certain lives and never forget prayer can give many answers to all questions. I Love You!]

Élder Willard

Prayer Works

Being senior is pretty awesome, but an aspect that I'm trying to watch out for is listening to my companion and allowing him to do his part. He can receive revelation about the work just as much as I can.

Estamos falando portuguese na rua e a gente tem mutia coisa a melhorar, ainda. Mas, estamos ensinando muito e, pela nossa fé, vamos batizar!

{We are speaking Portuguese in the street and we have a lot to improve still. But we are teaching very much and, by our faith, we baptize!}
We are going to the temple today, which is why I didn't write on Monday.

But one quick experience: yesterday we went about working with almost no success which was very bothersome and frustrating. As we walked and worked I was praying to Heavenly Father for guidance or direction to help us find someone to teach. We had a dinner with a less active family, so I had given up in finding anyone for the day. But it wasn't until the end of the dinner that the family’s 10-year-old daughter asked to be baptized!! YEAH! Prayer works everybody!!

I am thankful for all the blessings that I have received on the mission and in my life.

Elder Willard

New Companion!

I have been made senior companion. I am also staying in my area another transfer; it’s already been 6 months here. But I will never get an older missionary than me from here on out...I don’t think. Elder Gull will be my companion, an American from Utah.

Eu não tenho muito tempo mas eu tenho que falar portuguese mais para ser fluente. Estou animado servir como sênior e crescer mais espiritualmente e aprender mais de um outro companheiro. Eu amo vocês, Obrigado por tudo.

{I do not have much time but I have to speak Portuguese to be more fluent. I am excited to serve as senior companion and grow spiritually and learn more from another companion. I love you, thanks for everything.}

Elder Willard

If Ye Love Me

Pouring down rain today, which is much better than the heat. My companion is going home this next week which is great because I need to forget about home and just learn Portuguese and work. This transfer has been the hardest of my mission, thus far. I love my companion, but we could have and should work more.

Things that I’ve learned from my companion:

1 You have to love everybody

2 Don't get distracted while you work

3 Love as much as you can about the country (even though it’s a 3rd world country...and doesn't have dryers or carpet)

4 Go to bed on time and get up on time

5 Study everyday

6 Work with no regrets

7 Don't be rebellious about the little rules, just do them.

You must consecrate your life to be a successful missionary. To be honest I’ve been upset with myself and the progress in the area and have been blaming it on the members, my companion, the people, the climate etc. But I have no excuse for my laziness here. I’m not saying that I’ve been at home doing nothing for the past few weeks, but my heart and desire have not been in it. I have some repenting to do. If I love the Lord, you better be showing it, John 14:15, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.’ I must try to be perfect just as Christ asks.

Eu sei que A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias é única igreja da face da terra que é verdadeira. Jesus Cristo vive e O Pai dele me ama e te e todo mundo. Se a gente quiser voltar e viver com Ele de novo,  Nós precisamos fazer nossa parte e viver como Cristo, sendo perfeito. Eu amo vocês, guardam os mandamentos.

{I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church on earth that is true. Jesus Christ lives, and his Father loves me and you and everyone. If we want to go back and live with him again, we need to do our part and live as Christ, being perfect. I love you, keep the commandments.}

Élder Willard

A little Basketball

The work here is kind of slowing down, which is frustrating; it will be almost 6 months that I have worked in this one area and almost 8 months on the mission on the 29th of this month. To find people right now is based only on references and inspiration. No one is progressing and our numbers of lessons are really low. But everything is great, trying to work hard everyday; you only need to be responsible to yourself and to Heavenly Father. You know if you are doing your best so keep doing it. You have a whole lifetime to look back on your mission, and I don’t want to feel like I wasted my time.

Personal struggle: getting up on time...yeah. Something to improve on this week.

Today for the first time ever, part of our district is going to play basketball which is a huge deal. It took me like 4 months to find a court and people that are willing to play and to find a ball which was super difficult in a country where everyone plays soccer and volleyball. So I guess we will see how that turns out.

I would like to get some covers for my scriptures, but everything I’m finding is kind of expensive. There is a member that makes leather cases and burns famous church art into them. But they are 50 reals per cover. I’d like to get some cool covers from the mission in Brazil, but what do you think I should do, Mom?

I’m a little scatter-brained right now and I don’t have much to write. But I love you guys.

Elder Willard

Conference Weekend

Well they changed the age of eligibility to serve a mission for men from 19 to 18 and women from 21 to 19. So Frazier, go as fast as you can. Get a call to Brazil and not England (that's where all the pansies go;-)

Unfortunately, I didn't understand too much of conference (in Portuguese) which was frustrating, but I got some golden nuggets for me personally, plus I was drinking Chimarrão during the Sunday afternoon session. Just a little Rio Grande Do Sul culture.

We have a little girl on the way to baptism, a girl to less active members who really wants to be baptized. It’s just difficult to bring them to church because they live kinda far away in the most dangerous part of our area.

My companion is killing me. I love him, don’t get me wrong, but he is going home on the 30 of October and he is super excited, so he talks about home a lot, which makes me realize how much longer I have left and it’s a little overwhelming. What I need to do is think about the work and nothing else.

It isn’t as hard as people think, but I get distracted by my companion who will sometimes make a list of things that he will do when he gets home or the food he misses or his family or friends.

But I know that I can do it, its just hard right now.

Mom, could you have Frazier email me again, or could I get his email? Zach, what are you and your wife doing? David, can I get some photos of you and your wife via email? Elder Huff, what is the field like?

The field is white already to harvest.

Elder Willard

Welcome to October

It makes 7 months that I have been on the mission. Many days it feels like the mission is impossible, but I do know that it’s more important than my selfish needs or desires. I need to do this service for my Heavenly Father.

We had a confirmation of one of our investigators, which was terrific; a member did it and not us. I want all members to be involved in all aspects of the work, even when we are ‘treated like dogs’ (words of my trainer). A member threatened to strike me in the head with a stick because we missed an appointment because I was at home with a fever. But the members’ testimonies are great at lessons.

The bishop asked me to pray in sacrament meeting, but not directly. He had a clipboard and a piece of paper with my name next to the words ‘primeiro orador’. The word oração is prayer, so I thought I would give the first prayer, but little did I know that orador really means ‘speaker’ like the English word orator. So I was called to speak with nothing prepared and no time to prepare...in another language!! But truly the Lord will put into your mouth the things you must say, in the exact moment.

The biggest lie about religion is that everyone needs to find their own way to worship/believe/practice their religions. “All roads lead back to God.” Wrong. “All you have to do is believe.” Wrong. “God will accept whatever form of worship you do, just do what YOU think is right.” Wrong. Heavenly Father gives us all the rules and gives them all equally to all of his children. If it were not so, he would be unjust and a liar. God is merciful, but we must do exactly what he wants us to do if we want eternal life. If your religion is want you think it should be, you’re doing what you want to do, so in reality you are worshiping yourself. It’s only through Christ that we can gain Eternal life. So do exactly what he told us to do. BE PERFECT!

The church is true, we have a really prophet like Noah or Moses, so we must hearken unto their counsel just as if God himself was talking to us. Because literally, the words of the Prophet are the words of God.

Elder Willard

New Companion

Well, my new companion is Elder Higdon, from Idaho Falls, Idaho. My first companion ever was from there also.

Unfortunate this past week has been really crappy. Having to remember everything about your area is harder than I thought after 4 and a half months of being here. I got yelled at by a member because I missed an appointment with a friend of his because I was at home on Friday with a 101.3 fever. That same day we had to go to the mission offices to renew some visa stuff so the whole day was just terrible.

Anyway we have hopes that things will pick up this week, and we won't get harassed by the members. My new companion only has a transfer left, so he´s fluent in the language and is a good teacher, but he´s just a little bit trunky to go home. He served in the states for 6 months waiting for his visa. Also it's difficult just to speak Portuguese with him because it's so much easier to speak English.

Many people in the ward still don't know what my name is. It's a little frustrating, especially when I know their names and have taught lessons with them to their friends who were baptised.

Anyway all is well, just super tired all the time.

Elder Willard

Transfers

My companion is going home tomorrow, after 2 years (and 30 days, he loves to remind people about that). He is going back to Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. (Natal means Christmas in Portuguese.) My new companion is unconfirmed, but reports from my Zone Leaders is that it’s an American....which could be a problem for my language. My companion told me that I speak better than him....and he has 1 year and 8 months. But we will see; you will receive a better report tomorrow.

It’s been nothing but rain for the last few days. I'm not used to the lightning just yet; I flinch every time the road I'm walking in is filled with purple light. I love it except it’s almost impossible to make contacts in the street and more difficult to make contacts at the door when you have to yell over the sound of thunder.

We baptized a young man on Saturday and had a killer stake conference with an Elder Costa from the seventy. Talking about temples, I would recommend reading some of his stuff but...it’s probably in Portuguese.

I'm pretty nervous about the transfer. Like remembering all the people we taught and the members and where people live...it’s a little crazy. Oh, I'm super excited to get the package that was sent to me. It will be the first mail that I will get in Brazil. That's not a shot at anybody for not writing me, because I haven't written anyone.

I cannot believe that it is the middle of flippin September! That will make about 4 and half months that I have been in Brazil.

Anyway, Eu Amo vocês e quero que vocês comiam cereal para mim, tá? (I love you and eat some cereal from me, OK?)

Elder Willard

Busy September

It’s raining...really hard. Which makes it really difficult to make street contacts because Brazilians don’t like the rain and hide inside.

Our mission has set a goal to baptize 110 people for the month of September and make 4200 contacts per zone. Our companionship has two baptisms with another one on the way this Saturday!! He is eight-years-old and has a testimony and is extremely smart.

By inspiration we found a killer family last night, the mother is Batuque (a weird espiritism religion that does animal sacrifices and would be considered a cult in the states--we find lots of their sacrifices in the streets with mutilated chickens and sometimes cats), but by the end of the lesson, we asked her to pray and she said, Heavenly Father, thank you for the peace the missionaries have brought me, and when we said Amen, her son, Diego, was crying. We didn’t ask why but I think it was the spirit. I’m super excited to see them again.

It’s weird to think that I will get another companion soon, after almost 4 months with the same one. I’m afraid my new companion won’t want to work, or that I will become senior companion, or that I will move to a new area, or that I will train. So really, the end of this transfer has me with a lot of doubts and fears, but that’s what a mission is for.

Stress + time = Growth....I think...

This picture I have attached is the wonderful married couple we baptized and the President of the mission who randomly showed up..
 
The Church is true everybody! I know it is! The evidence is everywhere on my mission. It’s in the lives of those we baptize. Eat some barbeque sauce and do something American for me.
Eu Amo Você!
Elder Willard

Weddings and Baptisms

Tudo Bem!!!
Well crazy stuff happened this last week.

We had a wedding on Saturday with tons of non-members, which got me a little uncomfortable because it was in the chapel, and the husband-to-be´s friends
were kinda drinkers. But all was well except for the fireworks that went off right in front of the chapel with super loud worldly music, and some kind of laser show.

But the following day we baptized them at the end of all the church meetings. We baptized a family! They were super happy and excited. It was kinda funny,
we had gotten them changed into their jumpsuits and they were just waiting in front of the baptismal font doors and kept asking, “Can we go now? Come on let’s go!”
And the president of the mission just showed up for the baptism, which was a little unnerving. A couple weeks ago he pulled me into his office with my companion and said, “Don’t be surprised if I make you senior this next transfer or the following. Your companion is one of the best missionaries we got and you have been with him for almost 3 transfers. I expect to see some good things from you.” How am I supposed to be a senior companion?! I’ve been freaking out a little bit these last couple weeks, he also said I could start training!!

Other then those things, everything is good. Just trying to work hard. My biggest weakness is still the language.

I love you all
Elder Willard

The Power is on!

Saturday we did not have a baptism, after preparing and inviting every single person we could think of, our candidate called and cancelled 3 hours before. And thus we sat in the bishop’s office, calling our invites and said the baptism had been postponed. We will see about that. My companion said that has never happened to him before on his mission, which made me think that I was bad luck. But the good news from Saturday is the power came back on....after 8 days!

Another issue is I cannot seem to keep my white shirts white. I need to find some sort of chemical that can get stains out in Brazil. I bet I could find something not cleared by the FDA, HA! HA!

On the upside, I have my first wedding, Antonio and Nadir, on 1st and on the 15th, and two baptisms. They are already self sufficient, visiting church every Sunday for all the 3 hours. It’s just so amazing how simple it is to have a change of heart by doing the basics. Studying the scriptures, praying, attending church.

The last two days have just been terribly cold, and the 3 days before that were terribly hot. It’s a little frustrating, but I sure do prefer the rain to the heat.

The Temple was just terrific and it was different with another language, but it just strengthens my testimony that the church is true because everything is exactly the same in the temple. The church is true all over the world.

I happy to declare that I think I'm losing weight, but has yet to be proven scientifically.

Thanks for everything, I hope the spelling is better... Sabrina..(how can I sabotage your relationship now?)

Elder Willard

Temple Trip

We are going to the temple today, the Porto Alegre Templo, so our p-day is today. But the power is out at our apartment since Friday, so freezing cold showers, no washing of clothes, no refrigerator, no light, and lots of candles.

We have a baptism on Saturday and a wedding soon. The language is coming; my number one problem is understanding what is being said to me directly. When it’s a conversation with many different people, I understand almost everything, but when someone asks me a question directly, I don’t know what’s happening.

I don’t have much time because we have to go visit the senior missionaries to get power, which is pretty frustrating.

Eu Amo Vocês

Elder Willard

Visiting Parents

Some parents of a missionary who was going home this week came down to visit him for about a week. The elder took his parents to meet converts he had baptized, eat native food and see some sights. I don't think my parents would do that. I got to have dinner with them on one occasion and they came to visit our ward. On Sunday the American Mother called after, Help! I need someone who speaks English!! I was quite impressed that I was able to translate nearly everything being said for them. Can you imagine coming to a foreign land that you are not familiar with and spend a week there not understanding anything being said? But who knows. Maybe Dad would like to visit me or Sister Willard in our countries. I think Mom would go for sure.

 

All is well here. I'm just tired all the time. I never seem to catch up with sleep.

 

I love you all,

Elder Willard

Another Transfer

I never want to miss a family reunion. The only excuse I can think of is being on a mission. BUT, that’s awesome; was the reunion in Sequim?

Anyway, I’m staying with my trainer for another transfer which is great because after working this area a little bit, we are starting to pick the fruits of our labor. We have a guestimation of 6-7 baptisms this transfer alone. People are just coming out of the woodwork. We were teaching a gal who seems very interested in the message; she told us of an experience last week:

“I was going to work on my bike (motorcycle) and as I came to a traffic light, I had a choice of two different lanes. Something told me to stop in the right lane and so I did. Another bike behind me picked the left. After a few moments of waiting at the light, the bike in the left lane was struck by a car. I thought to myself what the missionaries had said to me, ‘As you come to know that our message is true, you will face trials, but God will help you.’”

Satan knows who needs our message and knows who the missionaries are talking to and he will do everything in his power to stop the work from progressing. Heavenly Father’s elect are out there and are prepared; we just need to find them and teach them with power.

Eu sei que a Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Utimos Dias é verdadeira, e que Joseph Smith foi chamado por Deus. A Igreja tem a autoridade de Deus para realizar batismo, recebendo o dom do Espirito Santo e muitos milagres. Nós podemos voltar e viver com Pai Celestial si nós vivemos o evangelho de Jesus Cristo.

Eu Amo você!!!

Elder Willard

Ask for Yourself

Well, we have another baptism this Saturday, a sweet 10 year old gal. So we are all super excited. Yesterday was pretty sweet, one of our investigators called us and said that she had gotten an answer about the Book of Mormon.

When she prayed she felt a light and a terrific feeling come upon her, said it was hard to describe, but then she started to read the Book of Mormon to her `bed-ridden´ mother and she said that she felt something, a feeling of great joy and peace surrounded her. It’s pretty amazing how much faith people have here in Brazil.

A lot of people here seem to get an answer in the very first prayer, asking Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon is true. The people here have no doubts about the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ.

My trainer is staying one extra transfer on the mission and I think he will stay with me, which is awesome. I have a feeling we are going to baptize a lot of people next transfer. After working with some people for 3 months, getting them married, getting answers from God, resolving doubts, the fruits of our labors are ready to be harvested. Oh yesterday I had been out on the mission for 5 months exactly. I don’t know if it was a long time or very fast.

We just keep ‘finding’ people. This last week we found 14 new investigators. And I’m realizing that coincidences on the mission don’t happen.

Wow, it is nearly impossible to remember what happens during the week to tell you guys about it. But all is well and the mission is terrific and the hardest thing I’ve ever done, that’s for sure.

I love you guys,

Elder Willard

Joining a Soccer Team

Tudo Bem, Todo Mundo!!

I have officially chosen a soccer team to be a member of; I even bought a jersey.

The team is Grêmio. In the states there’s only like one Pro team per state. But it’s a little

different in Brazil. To put it simply there are two teams out of Rio Grande Do Sul:

Internacional and Grêmio. Eu sou Grêmista. But all is well and tranquilo here in Brazil. The language is coming slowing but surely...oops, a dog just ran under my desk. It’s Brazil. I’ve been trying to think of something that I need or would like from the states....and it’s Betty Crocker brownie mix (if that’s even possible).

You know what is really hard? Going on splits with a member when you don’t speak the language very well or understand anything that is spoken, and try to teach people.

Yesterday, Fabricio, a member, and I went out without a senior companion or any kind if safety net to keep us out of trouble.

But the problem was, as we went to find and teach our investigators, no one was home or was busy. So the whole day about 8 hours was spent looking and finding nothing, but we were able to just teach one lesson. At the end of that lesson the investigator said no to our message. Really just a sad day for the work.

Frazier, how is work? Marnie, what are you going to do this summer that will prepare you for school? Jackson, I want you to email me everything you did this last week.  Alex, how is the field, stud? Brandon, have you seen a play with Amelia yet? Amelia, have you had a summer adventure yet? Zach, will you name you future son (who could be on the way) Calvin? Sabrina, is my previous comment true? Dad, can you take some pictures of the pole barn and send them too me...if it’s done? Mom, are you liking the Iphone?

I love you all and have some rice and beans for me.

Elder Willard

Teaching about Marriage

We had a baptism on Saturday...I think I already said that...

Anyway, all is well here in Porto Alegre, but is a bit chilly...which is a dream come true.

We have several, I believe 3 couples, with wives that want to get baptized because they know the church is true, but cant because they aren’t married to their husbands. And the husbands aren’t interested in religion and more interested in money or alcohol or how no believe in God or don’t see the importance of being married or the importance of the family.

It’s so frustrating to see these poor women suffer, knowing what they need but completely stuck. It’s going to take a lot of fasting and prayers and inviting, but I know those husbands will receive an answer from Heavenly Father.

You know what’s hard...learning another language. Even with an easy Latin based language like Portuguese, it is still frustrating and difficult. It is for sure serving a mission is the hardest this I have ever done, but by far the best.

Yesterday we were teaching a member’s sister. She basically grew up in the church but has never been baptized. I thought it went well but has the member drove us home he chewed us out, bitter and upset about the lesson. `´She just needs to feel the spirit, have a spiritual experience to get baptized and I felt nothing!! You didn’t teach with the spirit`. I felt awful for a long time. I thought, Am I not doing my job correctly, Am I not teaching by or with the Spirit? What is wrong with me? I will never talk to any missionaries the way he did to us. But nothing makes you feel better than just straight out praying and found comfort in talking with Heavenly Father.

I love you all you and my companion also, he is incredible and the hardest working guy I know.

Read the scriptures and pray every single day! Tá bom!!

Te Amo

Elder Willard